Carly Fiorina Foundation Gave $467,275 To Planned Parenthood Through Group That Runs It

Carly Fiorina claims to be against Planned Parenthood. In fact, she has made it a staple of her campaign. She is currently on a mission, urging Republicans to defund the organization and hold the annual fiscal budget hostage. She cites, among other things, that taxpayers and the government shouldn’t have any role in abortions.

Well, that, we already knew. An investigative piece from The Daily Beast has unearthed new information that Carly Fiorina’s Foundation, run by The Ayco Charitable Foundation, has collectively donated $467,275 to various Planned Parenthood’s through 2011 through 2013.

THIS IS BIG

Now, it’s not like she is directly giving the money to Planned Parenthood. It’s a lot more complicated than that. But, it’s essentially the same thing. She is entrusting her money to a group that pools its money together with other ultra-rich people, for exclusive tax benefits notwithstanding. Instead of giving that money to the government, she gets a tax write-off on her income, by giving her money to a group that has no problem supporting abortion, a practice she thinks is evil. How is that any different from taxpayers giving money directly to Planned Parenthood?

When The Daily Beast asked the Fiorina campaign why Carly just doesn’t find a donor-advised fund that vows never to give money to Planned Parenthood, they didn’t respond.

IT GETS BETTER

Carly lists herself, on her website, as the “Chairman of the Fiorina Foundation.” But, it’s not really a foundation, it’s just an account name set up through The Ayco Charitable Foundation, and there is no “Chairman.” There aren’t even any members. If it were truly a foundation, it would have to register with the secretary of state in California or with the county clerk in Santa Cruz, where she used to reside. Since private foundations have to file annual 990 forms, Carly would be in violation of the law if indeed, it were real.

Still – technicalities aside – she claims she donates money to various groups. But, when The Daily Beast asked her what groups, the deputy manager of her campaign, Sarah Isgur Flores, said:

“It’s a lot of charities and I’m not going to release names which will cause a headache for some of the smaller organizations.”

So, let’s get this straight – Carly is publicly boasting of being the head of a “charitable foundation” but she refuses to specify what groups she gives to? Sounds pretty fishy, alright.

The only way to judge her “charitable giving” is to review the official financial documents (990 form) of The Ayco Charitable Foundation, which she gives her money to. While they gave to churches, schools, and museums, they also gave $467,275 to Planned Parenthood. And, that’s a fact.